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The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off on the 12th June 2014 seeing the host team Brazil matched with Group-A rivals Croatia. Not only does this match commemorate the official start of the World Cup, but it also marks a moment in World Cup history with the introduction of many new FIFA approved technologies and enhancements.

The aim of these new technologies are to create a fairer and more impartial tournament by providing the referee with more insight into the what actually happens on the pitch. These are:

Goal Line Technology

For the first time in history, goal line technology will be introduced into the World Cup in 2014. Although there are many different technologies used to implement goal line monitoring (the most well known being ‘Hawk Eye’), FIFA have decided on a system known as ‘GoalControl’. This system allows real-time monitoring and analysis of the match and successfully allows the tracking of moving objects. When a ball passes the goal, referees will receive (in less than 1 second) a signal to their watch informing them of a goal (or if contested, a non-goal). This technology has been requested for a number of years now, with the debate reigniting following important misinformed decisions where referees and linesmen have made the wrong call. An example of this being the goal scored by Frank Lampard during the 2010 FIFA World Cup where the ball was not considered to have crossed the goal line.

Vanishing Spray

In an attempt to make the game even fairer the decision has been made to introduce ‘vanishing spray’ into the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Vanishing spray is used to provide a temporary marker on the pitch and will most likely be used during free kicks to mark the minimum distance and spot from where the free-kick should be taken. Vanishing spray will be used entirely at the referees discretion, however the spray will be available at all times in an aerosol form carried on the hip.

Drink Breaks

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be played in climates that many would consider extreme. In stadiums where the humidity can reach 99%, dehydration is a real concern. Both England manager Roy Hodgson and Italy coach Cesare Prandelli have called for official drink breaks to be introduced into the World Cup matches. However whether or not this will happen will be entirely at the referees discretion.